Popocatépetl

Popocatépetl, meaning “smoking mountain” in Nahuatl, is an active stratovolcano in central Mexico. It rises to 5,426 meters (17,801 feet) above sea level and is the second-highest peak in the country after Pico de Orizaba. The volcano straddles the border between the states of Puebla and Mexico and lies about 70 kilometers (roughly 40 miles) southeast of Mexico City. It is part of the Central Mexican Volcanic Belt and sits near Iztaccíhuatl, a companion peak known as the Sleeping Woman.

Popocatépetl has been highly active since the mid-1990s after a period of dormancy. It regularly emits gas plumes and ash, with episodic explosions and lava-dome growth in the crater. Hazards include ashfall to the surrounding towns, ballistic ejecta, and, on stronger eruptions, pyroclastic flows down the upper flanks. The volcano is one of Mexico’s most closely monitored volcanoes; CENAPRED and other agencies maintain seismic, gas-emission, and visual observations and issue alert levels and evacuation recommendations when needed.

The volcano has a rich place in Mexican culture and archaeology. Its name comes from Nahuatl, and folklore links it with Iztaccíhuatl in a legend of star-crossed lovers. Popocatépetl remains a prominent geographic landmark and a symbol of Mexico’s volcanic activity.